The Faculty of Pharmacy launches new structure

“I am confident that in the foreseeable future we will work in a very creative environment,” says Mathias Hallberg, dean of Uppsala University's Faculty of Pharmacy, where seven research groups are entering a new scientific environment.

(Image removed)

On 1 September 2020, the Faculty of Pharmacy will reorganise. Seven research groups get a new department affiliation and Dean Mathias Hallberg sees great potential in the future structure.

“The model we are now introducing enables extensive synergy effects as scientifically related teams also approach each other organisationally. We have created the space needed to satisfy all wishes, and I am confident that we in the foreseeable future will work in a very creative environment.”

The most extensive changes will occur at the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences. Here, four research groups are joining: Biopharmacy under the leadership of Hans Lennernäs, Pharmacognosy (Ulf Göransson) and Galenic Pharmacy (Göran Alderborn and Göran Frenning). With the new groups in place, the department will move in an experimental direction, and Head of department Björn Hellman states that the department's name may need to be expanded as well.

“Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences and Technology would be more comprehensive and also contribute to welcome and include our new colleagues. We all take a very positive view of the many opportunities for research collaborations that now arise, and will appoint a working group in order to maximize the benefits of each potential meeting space. Still remaining is some administration regarding, among other things, economics and education, but we are entering our new structure well prepared and expect significant and lasting added value.”

Research groupsthat will leave the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences include Translational Pharmacokinetics / Pharmacodynamics under the leadership of Margareta Hammarlund-Udenaes. Together with Mats Karlsson's research group in Pharmacometrics, they are joining the Department of Pharmacy. A move that Professor Lena Friberg foresees great benefits from.

“Pharmacometrics is closely related to the research carried out at the Department of Pharmacy and we already conduct several joint projects. Our groups were the first to apply for relocation after identifying extensive opportunities for development within both research and education. Also at faculty level, I am convinced that new links between related scientific fields add important values ​​and in the long run will take our entire operations to another level.”

(Image removed) Sofia Kälvemark Sporrong

Sofia Kälvemark Sporrong, professor of Social Pharmacy, also joins the Department of Pharmacy. With Björn Wettermark, professor of Pharmaceutical Epidemiology, previously recruited from KI, the department now forms a strong research base, covering the entire distance from early preclinical development to the use of pharmaceuticals in society. In between there is in-depth knowledge of dosage forms and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. Together, the groups form a whole that Head of department Curt Pettersson deems to be very valuable also for the department's students.

“In parallel with our ongoing mobilization, which also includes modeling and regulatory research, we will also strengthen the proximity between research and education. The fact that our institution also provides a sought-after platform such as UDOPP means that we will in all probability move our position even one step further.”

Minor changes are taking place at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. Per Hansson's research group in Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry joins. Moving out, as previously mentioned, is Pharmacognosy. Although the change includes the reorganization's only geographical change, the change of location will not occur before 2021.

“Our priority tasks include welcoming and integrating Per Hansson's group at the department, as well as mapping the potential research collaborations this new constellation makes possible. Of course, it is sad to lose all the nice pharmacognosists that we have had extensive exchanges with, but with several ongoing collaborations that will live on, I can only state that the new organization will add even more and extremely valuable contacts for our department,” says Head of department Anders Karlén.

The reorganization of the Faculty of Pharmacy will continue on 1 January 2021, when administration and finance will step into the new structure. The last change will be implemented at the start of the spring semester 2021, when the basic education assignments will follow.

“The relocation of the seven research groups has been preceded by intensive preparatory work and will in all probability turn out well. We are now preparing for the next stage, and hopefully neither students nor our junior staff will notice any initial differences. On the other hand, I am convinced that in a few years we will look back and clearly see the great and important synergy effects our faculty's new organisation has brought with it”, says Mathias Hallberg.

The moves of our research groups

Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences

Joining:

  • Biopharmaceutics  Group leader: Hans Lennernäs
  • Pharmacognosy Group leader: Ulf Göransson
  • Pharmaceutics Group leader: Göran Alderborn
  • Pharmaceutics  Group leader: Göran Frenning

Departing:

  • Pharmacometrics Group leader: Mats Karlsson
  • Translational pharmacokinetics / pharmacodynamics  Group leader: Margareta Hammarlund-Udenaes

Department of Pharmacy

Joining:

  • Pharmacometrics  Group leader: Mats Karlsson
  • Social Pharmacy  Group leader: Sofia Kälvemark Sporrong (new recruitment)
  • Translational pharmacokinetics / pharmacodynamics  Group leader: Margareta Hammarlund-Udenaes

Departing:

  • Biopharmaceutics Group leader: Hans Lennernäs
  • Pharmaceutics Group leader: Göran Alderborn
  • Pharmaceutics Group leader: Göran Frenning
  • Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry  Group leader: Per Hansson

Department of Medicinal Chemistry

Joining:

  • Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry  Group leader: Per Hansson

Departing:

  • Pharmacognosy  Group leader: Ulf Göransson

Important dates

1 September 2020
Research Groups
1 January 2021
Administration, economy
18 January 2021
Education


More information  New organisation 2020/21

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt, Swedish Pharmaceutical Society

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